A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "What time is it" in Italian
Ask for the current time in Italian with 'Che ore sono?' – the standard way to inquire.
Che ore sono?
keh OH-reh SOH-nohneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you need to know the time, for example, to catch a train, meet a friend, or check if a shop is still open. It's a common question you'll ask throughout your day.
Alternatives
- Che ora è?Slightly less common but still perfectly understood.
- Mi scusi, che ore sono?Add 'Mi scusi' (Excuse me) for extra politeness when addressing a stranger.
Ways to get it wrong
Using 'quanto' instead of 'che'
Don't say 'Quanto ore sono?'; 'quanto' means 'how much,' not 'what' in this context.
Pronouncing 'ore' with a hard 'r'
The 'r' in 'ore' is often softened or slightly rolled, not a hard English 'r'.
A small cultural note
Italians are generally punctual for appointments but may be more relaxed about social timings. Asking the time is a very common interaction.
Frequently asked
how to ask time in italian
The most common way to ask 'what time is it?' in Italian is 'Che ore sono?'. You can also use 'Che ora è?'.
is che ore sono formal or informal
'Che ore sono?' is a neutral phrase and can be used in most situations. For extra politeness with strangers, add 'Mi scusi' before it.
italian for what time is the train
To ask 'what time is the train?', you would say 'A che ora è il treno?'. For a general time inquiry, use 'Che ore sono?'.
